Convertible folding tray table and coffee table



J. B. ADLER- Aug. 7, 1956 CONVERTIBLE FOLDING TRAY TABLE AND COFFEE TABLE Filed March 29, 1954 INVENTOR. Jonw e. 6

United States Patent CONVERTIBLE FOLDING TRAY TABLE AND COFFEE TABLE John B. Adler, Grosse He, Mich., assignor to Shwayder Brothers, Inc., Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Application March 29, 1954, Serial No. 419,208

1 Claim. (Cl. 311-79) This invention relates to a folding tray table, and more particularly to a tray table which may be converted from a serving table to a coffee table.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel and simplified foldable tray table employing removable legs and a disengageable tray whereby the table may be used either as a serving table or a coflee table.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a novel leg construction for a tray table whereby the table support is rigid independent of the tray mounted thereon.

It is the further object of the present invention to construct a removable tray of such dimensions that it will fit portions of the legs in either one of two ninety degree adjusted positions.

It is the still further object of the present invention to provide a novel and simplified folding leg and removable tray construction whereby the table may be folded or collapsed for storage in the minimum of space.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claim, in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the present foldable tray table, partially broken away and sectioned, for illustration.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof with the tray shown in section, for illustration.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale illustrating the pivotal connection of the table legs.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tray table when used as a coffee table; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawing, the tray table includes a formed tray 11, preferably of rectangular shape with slightly rounded corners and having a depending continuous peripheral flange 12, which terminates at its lower marginal edge in the upwardly extending reinforcing beading 13.

As shown in Fig. 4, the tray 11 includes the raised marginal portions 14 forming a rim, being cutaway or pressed down to the plane of the tray as at 15. In conjunction with said tray, there is provided a pair of elongated, preferably tubular legs 16 and 17, which are pivotally connected intermediate their ends as at 18.

There is provided a stop bracket 19 secured as at 18 and 20 to leg 17 adjacent its pivotal connection with leg 16. The headed pin 22 is secured to leg 16 and projects outwardly therefrom and guidably extends through the arcuate slot 21 formed in stop bracket 19. By this construction, and as indicated in Fig. 2, the stop bracket affords a rigid table support between the two legs independent of the mounting of the table top 11 thereover, in the manner hereafter described.

As viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a cross 2,757,998 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 bar 23 at the lower end of leg 16, which leg is secured to said cross bar at the central portion thereof. The cross bar includes a pair of outwardly directed elements which are formed into a substantial V shape, being arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to each other, so that the free outer ends 24 of cross bar 23 provide a pair of spaced supports.

Across the opposite end of leg 16, there is provided a second cross bar 25, the central portion of which is joined to leg 16. Cross bar 25 includes a pair of outwardly directed, preferably tubular elements which are arranged into substantial V shape at an obtuse angle so that the free end portions 26 thereof provide a pair of spaced supports for tray 11.

The other leg 17 at its lower end is joined to a central portion of cross bar 27, whose elements are outwardly directed and arranged into a substantial V shape at an obtuse angle. The free ends of this latter cross bar as at 28, provide an additional pair of supports adapted to engage the ground surface in cooperation with the lower end supports 24 of cross bar 23.

The opposite end of leg 17 is secured to the central portion of cross bar 29, which cross bar also includes a pair of outwardly directed elements forming a V shape and arranged at an obtuse angle. The free ends thereof as at 30 provide a second pair of spaced supports adapted to engage the underside of the tray at its junction with the tray flange 12, as at points 31, Fig. 2.

The tray and flange are so constructed and are of such dimension that with the legs fully opened to the position shown in Fig. 2, the respective spaced free end portions 26 and 30 of cross bars 25 and 29 will snugly and retainingly engage tray 11 at the junction of marginal portions thereof, with the interior surface of the tray flange 12 to thereby provide a sturdy and substantially rigid structure.

In order to convert the table from the serving table shown in Fig. 2 to the coffee table shown in Fig. 4, the tray is temporarily removed completely, after which the legs as a unit are rotated degrees to the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position, the respective end portions 24, 26, 28 and 30 of the respective cross bars cooperatively engage the ground surface to provide a firm and rigid support for the coffee table.

The corresponding opposite ends of the respective cross bars snugly project up into the respective corners of said tray upon the interior thereof at the junction of the undersurface of the tray with the portion of the tray flange which meets said undersurface.

The tray is so constructed and is of such dimension that the said upper ends of the respective cross bars 23, 25, 27 and 29 snugly and retainingly engage said tray for supporting the same in the position shown in Fig. 4.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the claim which follows for determining the scope thereof.

I claim:

A foldable tray table comprising a pair of elongated leg defining tubes pivotally interconnected centrally to provide an upright X shape support, transverse cross bars centrally secured to the opposite ends of said tubes, each cross bar including a pair of outwardly directed obtuse angularly related elements forming a V shape, the outer ends of one pair of said cross bars providing a plurality of spaced coplanar support points at the 'upper ends of said tubes adapted to receive a tray, the outer ends of the other pair of said cross bars providing a plurality of spaced coplanar support points at the lower ends of said tubes adapted to engage a ground surface, a tray having a depending peripheral flange removably positioned over and upon said tray support points, with said cross bars forming said tray supports cooperatively nested against opposed interior portions of said flange adjacent the body of the tray, said tray being completely removable from its supports, said legs being rotatable ninety degrees, the four corresponding ends of said cross bars adapted to rest upon a ground surface, said tray being retainingly positioned upon and over the corresponding opposite ends of said cross bars, said tray and flange being of such size that the interior corners of said flanges snugly and retainingly engage said cross bars, an arcuately slotted stop bracket secured to one of said legs adjacent its pivotal connection, and a headed pin extending through the slot of said bracket and secured to the other leg, limiting pivotal opening movements of said legs facilitating assembly of said tray over said tray supports and providing a rigid support structure independent of said tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cowles et al May 5, 1874 Otte Dec. 31, 1918 Lowenberg Oct. 9, 1934 King Mar. 12, 1935 Sweeney Jan. 25, 1938 Hild Mar. 20, 1951 Sanders July 1, 1952 Frye Apr. 14, 1953 Beall June 30, 1953 Adler Jan. 19, 1954 

